My baby has a head! And arms! And legs! And I’m pretty sure I can see a little nose!

To refresh your memory, here’s my scan from last Monday.

Quite a difference, huh? I even was able to see the heart beating quite quickly. In the earlier scans, I either didn’t see it or had to have it pointed out to me. I’m so happy today! My little Smudge is growing so well. It measures at 8w3d, two days behind where I am in my pregnancy, so my OB tentatively moved my due date to Dec. 4. He said it’s normal, though, so I don’t feel so bad about it. Smudge is 1.89 cm long and his/her heartbeat is 173 bpm. Smudge was lounging around in there, and the doctor spent a lot more time pointing things out and talking to us about it than the tech at Emory did.

I do have placenta previa — which is where the placenta partially covers the cervix — but the doctor said it’s quite common at this stage. He said he’s not concerned about it, but it’s something to keep an eye on.

Today was also my last vaginal u/s. Hooray! My next u/s is on May 26 for my 12 week nt scan (although I’ll be one day away from 13 weeks at that point). It and all my subsequent u/s will be done abdominally. I told Joe I won’t know what do when I go to the doctor and don’t have to strip!

A funny story from today . . . while I was sitting in the u/s room waiting for the doctor, I noticed smeared gel on the u/s probe. I know they change out the protectors, but the smeared gel weirded me out, so before the doctor did my u/s, Joe asked if they were going to change it. He said, “Uh, we don’t reuse them.” Then, after my u/s, he took off the protector and I noticed there was gel underneath on the probe itself. Yes, I feel like a moron. Oh well. I had just never seen it like that before.

I’m a little bummed that we don’t go back for a month. I got used to the weekly ultrasounds! I’m going to be excited to see how much my little Smudge has grown by then!

I may be almost 9 weeks pregnant (and entering my third month, I might add), but I don’t feel pregnant. I feel the same as I did before, with the added cramping and weight gain. And, I don’t feel like I belong in the “pregnant club”.

Dealing with the inability to get pregnant on my own and watching all my friends and family members get pregnant and have children before me has really done a number on me. Even though I’m now pregnant, and loving the thought of my baby growing inside me, I get jealous when I see other pregnant women. I don’t know why. I’m one of them now. Yet, I feel the same as I did before I got pregnant and I ran into pregnant women.

I’m counting down the weeks until I pass from the first to second trimesters. I don’t want to wish my pregnancy to speed away, but I’m ready to move on past the point of worrying and to the time when I’ll really start to feel and look pregnant. Maybe then I’ll feel like I’m in the club.

One month left in the first trimester. Finally. I am *so* ready for the first three months to be over. i feel like once I hit the second trimester I can really enjoy this pregnancy rather than be terrified most moments of the day.

All in all, though, the first two months were really good for me. I only had morning sickness for about a week total, and although it’s not fun, it’s definitely doable. I’m at the point now, though, where I’m ready to look pregnant. Right now I just look fat. But, my lower belly is starting to get firm, so I know the baby is growing away. I’m just really looking forward to reaching the point where people will see me and congratulate me.

I’ve started feeling uncomfortable when I sit certain ways. For example, if I sit with my legs crossed too long my stomach starts to feel crampy. If I lay on my right side, or with my torso twisted, my stomach cramps. Apparently, the Smudge doesn’t like those positions.

So, seven months left. My dad says it’s going to fly by. Maybe for him, but I feel like it’s going to crawl. I know in a month or so, I’m really going to start enjoying it and wishing the preganancy to slow down, but right now, I just can’t wait to hold my baby in my arms.

I am done at Emory. I officially “graduated” to my OB today. It’s kind of bittersweet. I’m ecstatic to have reached this milestone, but it will be weird not going to the clinic, where I’ve really gotten to know all the doctors and nurses.

Lil’ Geek looked great today. He/she had a heartrate of 150 bpm. It’s still a smudge, but a much bigger smudge. Joe swears he can see the distinction of legs. I’m not so sure.

One of the big things I’ll miss now that I’m going to an OB like a real pregnant woman is the weekly ultrasound. I’ve heard you only get a couple throughout the pregnancy at the OB’s office, and I’ve really looked forward to seeing the smudge every week. At least I should get one next Monday since it will be my first OB appointment, and he hasn’t done an u/s yet.

In other pregnancy news, it’s interesting seeing how my body is changing. Sure, it’s a little depressing at times, but it’s still very neat. My waist is really growing, which I’m guessing is from my uterus expanding. I only have a few pairs of pants now that fit me comfortably.

My belly is also getting quite big. I look fat now rather than pregnant, and it makes me feel self conscious is pretty much anything I wear. This leads to long, agonizing periods in front of my mirror every day as I try to find something to wear to work.

And my boobs…holy cow, they’re so big now! In fact, they are now almost popping out of my camisole! I think a shopping trip for larger bras is in the near future for me. They’re the one thing I don’t *mind* buying larger sizes in!

It looks like the chlorine smell and taste I’ve been experiencing is from the prenatal vitamins. The nurse at my PCP’s office wanted me to not take my prenatal today to see what happens, and, amazingly, the chlorine sensation is gone. The nurse says it’s likely from all the iron in the prenatals. Maybe I’m not used to so much iron at one time since I don’t eat meat. Who knows. At least now I know. I can deal with it for seven more months.

Asides

My kiddo has been big into music lately. She really likes drumming, and lately, she's really been into toy guitars that we've seen at the store. I want to encourage her love for music, obviously, but a little part of me kind of hopes it's just a toddler phase. I can totally picture requests for vestax at Guitar Center and the noise, and...oh, you know.

Asides

My kiddo has been big into music lately. She really likes drumming, and lately, she's really been into toy guitars that we've seen at the store. I want to encourage her love for music, obviously, but a little part of me kind of hopes it's just a toddler phase. I can totally picture requests for vestax at Guitar Center and the noise, and...oh, you know.